Combined razor blade cleaner, dryer and sharpener



Oct. 2, 1956 2,764,854

COMBINED RAZOR BLADE CLEANER, DRYER AND SHARPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1951 Fichi FIG 2,764,854 COMBINED RAzoR BLADE CLEANER, DRYER AND SHARRENER Filed Nov. 21. 1951 L. l.. MENKEN oct. 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 xxux xxxxx United States Patent O COMBINED RAZOR BLADE CLEANER, DRYER AND SHARPENER Lester L. Menken, Chicago, D1. Application November 21, 1951, serial No.`zs7,s17 s claims. (ci. s119s) My invention relates to a razor blade combined cleaner, dryer and sharpener particularly designed for use on double edged safety razors and blades of the Gillette type type and the objective advantages of my invention are:

1. To provide a new, simple, low cost razor blade combined cleaner, dryer, and Sharpener incorporating convenient, effective means for quickly, easily cleaning, drying, oiling and honing the cutting edges of double edged safety razor blades.

2. To provide a device of the above type which hones and oils the blades cutting edges simultaneously, thereby protecting and preserving the blades cutting edges against rust and corrosion.

3. To provide a device of the above type which incorporates means for removing from the blades cutting edges the debris and moisture resulting from shaving use.

4. To provide a device of the above type that wipes, cleans, dries, oils, and sharpens the -blades cutting edges while the blade is in the razor and without having to move the blade from its normal position in the razor.

5. To provide a device of the above type that operates simultaneously on both of the blades cutting edges.

6. To provide a device of the above type that operates eiciently on any of the conventional Gillette type of double edge safety razors.

7. To provide a device of the above type that operates eiciently on any of the commercial type of double-edged safety razor blades regardless of whether the blade is in or out of the razor at the time of sharpening.

8. To provide a device of the above type, which, in times of national emergency, reduces considerably the use of critical steel by prolonging the useful Shaving life of double edged razor blades.

The objects and advantages of this invention are selfevident from the following description and the accompanying drawings which are approximately actual size:

Fig. l is a perspective View of my combined razor blade cleaner, dryer and Sharpener; Fig. 2 is a plane view of the underside thereof; Fig. 3 is a plane view of a conventional double-edge razor blade; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my invention in position for cleaning and drying the cutting edges of said blade while Said blade is in a conventional type of Gillette safety razor, the razor being shown in open position with right hand clamping member 12 omitted for a better View of the application of my invention; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal side view of Fig. 4 from the side of the omitted clamping member 12 of the razor, except that my invention has now been moved to the blade sharpening position; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View of Fig. 5 through line N; Fig. 7 is a perspective View of my combined blade wiper and Sharpener on the blade in the one-piece clamping member or head of an older type of safety razor of the Gillette type; Fig. 8 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 4 but shows another embodiment of my invention in the blade cleaning and drying position on the blade in the razor; Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 8, said embodiment being shown in the blade honing position on the blade in the razor. Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the different views of the drawings.

Holder 7, wiping and drying Sponges 1, and honing elements 3 constitute the principal parts and portions of my new, combined double-edge razor blade cleaner, dryer and Sharpener designated in its entirety by the larger character 1A on the drawings.

Holder 7 is made of one-piece rigid metal sheet, plastic sheet or other firm material and formed or bent into an angular or arched tunnel-like shape with sides sloping generally downward and outward and culminating into flanged edges which also extend downward and outward. For purposes of description, 6 designates the front or leading edge and 8 represents the rear or opposite edge of holder 7. In operation, holder 7 is conveniently held between thumb at 6 and second finger or forenger at S, thus the overall length of the holder 7 must be such as can be comfortably held rbetween thumb and forefinger or Second finger of an average adult hand.

Firmly attached to the inner surfaces of flanges Z of holder 7 are Sponges 1 and honing or sharpening elements 3. Sponges 1 are shown here made of sponge rubber but can be real sponge, wool or cotton padding or any soft, Water absorbent cleaning or wiping material or fabric. Sponges 1 are relatively short in length and are attached to the inner surfaces of iianges 2 at or near the leading edge 6 of holder 7. Honing elements 3 are attached to the inner surfaces of anges 2 at a specified distance 2a from Sponges 1 and extend longitudinally toward the rear or back edge 3 of holder '7 and the length of these honing elements must be less than the length Za in Fig. 3, which is the length of the cutting edges of conventional double-edge razor blade 9. Honing elements 3 are actually strips of leather of even thickness throughout and their inner exposed blade-contacting surfaces become automatically flanged or angled to the same degree as anges 2 of holder 7 simply by attaching strips 3 to llanges 2 as shown. These leather honing strips 3 are previously soaked, boiled, impregnated or rubbed with oil so that they will deposit a coat of oil on the blades cutting edges during their sharpening operation, thereby lubricating the blade and protecting its cutting edges against rust and corrosion. For the Gillette super-speed type of razor shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9, it is important that the inner-exposed blade-contacting surfaces of honing elements 3 -be arched or curved convexly lengthwise of themselves. This can be done by convexly Shaping or arching the inner exposed blade-contacting surfaces of honing elements 3 themselves along their entire length or by convexly curving or arching the inner surfaces of anges 2 along that part of their length to which honing elements are attached. Then, the even iiat honing strips 3 will automatically assume the arch or curve of flanges 2 as soon as these honing strips are attached to anges 2 in the manner described previously. The reason for these and other design and construction features of my invention 1A is demonstrated by the actual use of my invention as follows:

After a shave with razor 16, its blade clamping members 12, one of which is omitted in Figs. 4 and 5 for an unobstructed View of the factors involved, but which are both clearly shown in Fig. 6, are fully opened, thus exposing blade 9. My invention is then manually moved longitudinally across blade 9 from back to front with Sponges 1 in physical contact with blades cutting edges 10 as illustrated in Fig. 4. As the Sponges 1 move over cutting edges 10, the Sponges wipe olf the .shaving debris and, at the same time, absorb the water from the blades cutting edges. Since the honing elements 3 are located behind Sponges 1, the honing elements contact the blades 3 cutting edges 10 after these cutting edges have been already wiped clean and dry by the Sponges immediately preceding them and attached to same holder 7. As Sponges complete their stroke over the blade 9, they drop down over razor ledge 11 into position outside razor 16 as shown in Fig. and, the same movement of holder '7 that accomplishes this automatically places honing elements 3 in sharpening position and contact on blade 9 as also shown in Fig. 5.

Sharpening and oiling of the blades cutting edges are now accomplished simply by manual manipulation or movement of holder '7 longitudinally back and forth as indicated by arrows in Fig. 5 or in an oval motion. Construction of the Gillette super-speed type of razor 16 is such that when in the open position as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, any pressure, such as the manual pressure of honing, on top of the blade 9 causes the blade to curve or are inwardly toward handle 13 of razor 16 and in this position of the blade its cutting edges 1t) are actually curved or arced inwardly to a position lower than the ledges 11 of razor 16. Honing elements 3 of holder 7 must therefore operate on blade cutting edges 10 in the space between ledges 11 of razor 16. 1f honing elements 3 were the same length as the length Za of blade cutting edges 10, the longitudinal back and forth movement and/ or oval movement of holder 7 required for sharpening the blade would be prohibited by these now higher ledges 11 of razor 16. In this instance, the front edge 3 would simultaneously butt up against back ledge 11 of 11 of razor 16 while the back edge 5 of honing elements 33 would simultaneously butt up against back ledge 11 of razor 16, thus freezing the honing elements 3 from the back and forth movement necessary for sharpening. Therefore, by having the length Z of honing elements 3 somewhat shorter than the length Za of blade cutting edges 10, the longitudinal back and forth movement and/ or oval movement of holder 7 for blade sharpening and oiling is permitted. in this instance, holder 7 can be moved forward for honing until front edges 4 of honing elements 3 hit up against front ledge 11 of razor 16 and holder 7 likewise can be moved backward for sharpening until back edges 5 of honing elements 3 hit up against back ledge 11 of razor 16. The manual manipulation of holder 7 for sharpening blade 9 is now a simple matter of shaking the hand holding holder 7 back and forth or in an oval motion or a combination of both movements. Because of the ease, speed and simplicity of this sharpening motion, blade sharpening requires only several seconds. And since the cutting edges 10 of blade 9 arc or curve inwardly or concavely under the pressure of honing, the inner exposed blade-sharpening surfaces of honing elements 3, as explained previously, must be arced or curved convexly lengthwise of themselves to conform to the concave or inward arc of the blade 9 so that these sharpening surfaces will remain in proper contact along their entire length with the cutting edges 10 of blade 9 during the manual honing manipulation of holder 7 of my invention 1A and, to permit no interference from Sponges 1 with the back and forth sharpening movement of honing elements 3, the space 2a between wiping and drying Sponges 1 and honing elements 3 must be at least as great as the distance by which length Z of honing elements 3 is shorter than the length Za of cutting edges 10 of blade 9.

To insure ample blade wiping and/or honing contact of my invention 1A on the cutting edges 10 of blade 9 in razor 16, the width of 1A measured between the outer edges of honing elements 3 and/or between the outer edges of Sponges 1, said width being indicated by the distance Y in Figs. 2 and 6, must be greater than the distance Ya in Figs. 3 and 6, this Ya distance being the distance between the cutting edges 10 of blade 9. This greater distance allows for the lateral overhanging of honing elements 3 and Sponges 1 beyond the cutting edges 1Q of blade 9, thus insuring positive contact without slip-oi during the wiping and sharpening operation. At the same time and in order to permit free, easy operation and manipulation of my invention 1A within the confined lateral limits of razor 16 as confined by the distance between open clamping members 12 of razor 16, this Y width of 1A must be less than the W width of razor 16 in Fig. 6, this W width being the narrowest distance between clamping members 12 of razor 16 when said clamping members are in the full open position as shown in Fig. 6.

In Figs. 4 and 6, blade positioner and holder 17 of razor 16 can be seen protruding to a certain height Xa through the slotted central section 1S of blade 9. ln order to avoid an interference from blade positioner and holder 17 with the free and easy manipulation of 1A during the wiping and honing operation, the inside vertical height X in Fig. 1 of my invention must be greater than the height Xa of blade positioner and holder 17 as shown in Fig. 4 and the interior lateral width of holder 7 of 1A must be wider at its most narrow section than the thickness of the blade protruding portion of blade positioner and holder 17 of razor 16.

Fig. 7 shows how my invention 1A can be used to sharpen the double-edge blade of the older type of Gillette safety razor. In this type of razor, the one-piece head or clamping member 14 together with blade 9 become disassembled (as shown) from the guard and handle (not shown) merely by unscrewing the handle from the threaded shaft 15 of head 14, thereby leaving blade 9 exposed and in position on head member 1d for being cleaned, oiled and honed by my invention 1A. In this instance, head member 14 is placed in palm of left hand with blade up as shown and holder 7 of my invention is held between fingers of right hand and otherwise used and manually manipulated to wipe, dry, oil and sharpen blade 9 as described previously for the Gillette super-speed type of razor. In this instance, too, the inner exposed blade contacting surfaces of honing elements 3 need not be convex but, for best results, should be fiat and straight, since the blade 9 resting in head member 14 does not bend inward concavely but remains relatively straight and flat under the manual pressure of the honing operation. In this instance, too, the X in Fig. l of my invention must be at least great enough to clear the height of protruding threaded stud 1S of head 14 when my invention is resting on blade 9 with honing elements 3 and/ or wiping and drying Sponges 1 in physical contact with cutting edges 10 of blade 9. Also, the limitations on the length of honing elements 3 and gap 2a between Sponges 1 and honing elements 3 as previously described need not be adhered to. Honing elements 3 may be shorter or longer or the same length as the Za of cutting edges 10 of blade 9 and there need be no gap 2a at all between honing elements 3 and Sponges 1. Also, as a holder for the blade itself and not necessarily a part of any razor, a device similar to head member 14 and with or without a rearwardly extending handle for easier holding in the hand may be used in conjunction with my invention and as part of my invention and to be known as the blade holder.

In Figs. 8 4and 9, 19A represents another embodiment of my combined razor blade cleaner, dryer and sharpener in use on the Gillette super-speed type of doubleedge safety razor. Fig. 8 shows the same perspective and use of embodiment 19A as Fig. 4 shows for my preferred embodiment 1A. Fig. -9 shows embodiment '19A in the same blade sharpening position as preferred embodiment 1A is shown in Fig. 5 except that Fig. 5 is a longitudinal side view whereas Fig. 9 is a perspective view. The principal d-iierence between embodiment 19A and preferred embodiment 1A is in the shape of the respective holders, 7a and 7 respectively. Whereas holder 7 is bridged or arced longitudinally throughout its central section in order to clear elevated section 17 of razor 16, holder 7a is relatively fiat and straight along its entire central portion. Elimination of interference from protruding blade holder and positioner I17 with cleaning 4and honing manipulation of embodiment 19A over blade 9 is accomplished by slot 19 in holder 7a, said slot running along the longitudinal axis of holder 7a and being open at its front and wide enough and of suicient length to comfortably receive protruding section '17 of razor 16 during the entire wiping and honing operation and manipulation of embodiment r19A over blade 9. yIn all other respect-s, embodiment 19A is identical .to preferred embodiment *1A of my invention, and actual manual manipulation of '19A in razor 16 for wiping, drying, oiling, and sharpen-ing the cutting edges l of :blade 9 is similar to that of 1A. Fig. 8 shows embodiment 119A in blade wiping and drying position and Fig. 9 shows 19A in blade oiling and honing position.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for sharpening double edged razor blades while being supported in a holder having stops extending upwardly through openings in the central portion of the blade comprising a rigid frame member having a pair of anges extending longitudinally and with a downwardly and outwardly inclined slope 4in parallel relation laterally spaced apart by an amount less than the distance between the cutting edges of the blade at the inner edges and greater 'at the outer edges, wiping members secured to the underside of the anges along the leading end portion, honing elements secured to the underside of said flanges in yalignment with said wiping elements but spaced rearwardly therefrom, the honing elements being dimensioned to have a length less than the length of the razor blade and a Width dimensioned from outer edge to outer edge .to be greater than the width of the blade and from inner 'edge to inner edge to be less than the width of the blade but spaced apart from each other, and means for positioning the honing elements with the underside shaped to convex curvature lengthwise from end to end.

2. A device for sharpening double edged razor blades being supported in a holder having stops extending upwardly through openings in the central portion of the blade comprising a rigid frame having an elongate body portion in the form of an inverted V extending outwardly from the lateral edges of said body portion at a slight downardly slope, the spread between the edges of lthe said body portion corresponding to about the lwidth of the blade, a rectangularly shaped wiper pad xed to the underside of said flanges along the leading end portion thereof, elongate honing elements xed to the underside of said flanges rearwardly of said wiper elements and longitudinally in alignment therewith whereby both the wiper elements and honing elements are inclined outwardly and downward-ly in their mounted relation, the vertical distance between the apex of said V shaped Ibody portion and the edges being greater than the height of the stops less the thickness of the wiping and honing elements while the Width of said honing elements in their mounted relation is greater from outer edge to outer edge than the Width of the blade and less than the -width of the `blade from their inner edge to inner edge, said flange portion supporting the honing elements being shaped to convex fcurvature in the longitudinal direction to cause the honing elements lsecured thereto to assume corresponding curvature in position of use.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the length of the honing elements is less than the length of `the blade and in which the honing elements are spa-ced rearwardly of the Iwiping elements by an amount less than the difference between the length of the blade 'and the length of the honing elements.

and integral flanges References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 751,165 Gessner Feb. 21, 1904 1,441,030 Rudolph Ian. 2,' 1923 1,478,835 Peacock et al Dec. 25, 1923 1,552,583 Stokes etal Sept. 8, 1925 1,615,396 Lorenz Jan. 25, 1927 1,974,175 Coggins Sept. 18, 1934 2,324,498 vEmmert July 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 345,551 Great Britain Mar. 26, 1931 

